(We are looking for translations in ALL other languages. Please submit your translation with the stage no. and language in the subject title. If you don't see your preview posted within 12 hours then please resend your preview as an attachment if you didn't already do so because we've had problems with some inline character sets like German.)

May 16 post: We are back on the mainland now after the epic Stage 9 visit to Mount Etna on Sicily and a long transfer day on Monday. The previous stage on the mainland (Stage 8) saw the race go down the west coast along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Tuesday's Stage 10 will head north along the other side of Italy from Termoli before heading inland after 136 km of flat-rolling cycling along the Adriatic Sea. The last 20 km of this 159 km stage features a very gradual inland rise to Teramo, in the Abruzzo region, where the race will finish with a 4% section for the final 100m.

Teramo has been used several times as a start town for the growing Tirreno-Adriatico, held each March. Meanwhile, the Giro d'Italia last finished in Teramo in 2000 when Australian David McKenzie, riding for the Linda McCartney Race Team, soloed the final 120 km stage 7 for the biggest win of his career winning by 50 seconds on a course that was more hilly than Tuesday's stage 10. Matteo Tosatto wore the Maglia Rosa during and at the end of Stage 7 back in 2000. Ironically, 11 years later he's riding for Team Saxo-Bank which has the Pink Jersey on the shoulders of Alberto Contador.

Expect Stage 10 to end with a sprint finish where the 4% kick in the last 100m favors Francisco Ventoso (Movistar Team) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD), the main combatents from the stage 6 uphill finish in Fiuggi. Danilo di Luca is in his home region of Abruzzo, but the finish isn't likely hard enough for him. You can bet he'll give it a go possibly from a small break now that he's not riding for GC. — Steve